Method and apparatus for charging material into a coking furnace unit

ABSTRACT

In a coking furnace unit having a multiplicity of furnace chambers, coal is supplied from a plurality of bunkers mounted on a movable support member. After the closure members are removed from the inlets to the furnace chambers, the bunkers are moved into sealing engagement with the inlets for supplying coal into the chambers. The charging of coal into the furnace chambers and the levelling of the coal within the chambers is carried out to avoid the emission of smoke, soot and dust from the furnaces and to maintain at a minimum the period during which the furnaces are open to receive air from the atmosphere.

ited States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING MATERIAL INTO A COKING FURNACE UNIT 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 201/40, 214/18 PH, 214/23, 214/35 R, 202/263 Int. Cl ..C10b3l/04, ClOb 37/02 Field ol Search 202/262,

263; 201/40; 214/35, 36, 23,18 PH, 35 R Primary Examiner Norman Y udkoff Assistant Examiner-David Edwards Attorney-McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: In a coking furnace unit having a multiplicity of furnace chambers, coal is supplied from a plurality of bunkers mounted on a movable support member. After the closure members are removed from the inlets to the furnace chambers, the bunkers are moved into sealing engagement with the inlets for supplying coal into the chambers. The charging of coal into the furnace chambers and the levelling of the coal within the chambers is carried out to avoid the emission of smoke, soot and dust from the furnaces and to maintain at a minimum the period during which the furnaces are open to receive air from the atmosphere.

PATENTED unvao I97! SHEET 1 BF 3 1N VENTOR. JOIMMVE'S KNAPPS T574 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING MATERIAL INTO A COKING FURNACE UNIT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method of and apparatus for charging coal into a coking furnace unit and, more particularly, it concerns an arrangement wherein the emission of gases, soot, dust and the like from the furnace chambers into the atmosphere is kept at a minimum.

Due to the publics demand that the atmosphere be maintained free of pollutants, the coking industry attempts to prevent the discharge of any smoke, soot, and dust into the atmosphere which might be considered objectionable.

It has been known to provide the outlets from charging bunkers mounted on movable supports and in conjunction with horizontal coking furnace units, with sealed telescopic members having sealing elements at their lower ends arranged to bear against the outer casing of the furnace structure. With such an arrangement, the issuance of dust containing charging gases and dense smoke at the junction between the charging bunkers and the furnace chambers is prevented. However, this arrangement does not prevent charging gases from being emitted into the atmosphere from other parts of the furnace chamber.

Another similar device is a movable bunker outlet pipe which is smaller in diameter than the opening in the furnace casing so that it can extend into the opening. Such a device is provided with a telescopic sheath spaced outwardly from the pipe which can be attached to a flange or other sealing element on the exterior of the furnace structure and a vent is connected to the sheath to conduct the dust containing charging gases into a washing or irrigating plant and from there through a chimney into the atmosphere or, alternatively, to combine the collected gases with the gases within the furnace to assist in the coking operation.

In another effort to avoid the discharge of pollutants into the atmosphere, combustible gases have been added to the charging gases exhausted at .the point where the material is charged into the furnaces, the mixture is burned and the combustion gases are washed and then discharged into the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, these means which have been used involve serious disadvantages. In certain cases, very fine solid material, whether burned or unburned, is carried along by the charging gases while the materials are being delivered into the furnace and arrive in the wash water. The wash water is combined with the coke-quenching water and is transferred to settling tanks for the quenching water. I

It has been found that the fine solid particles do not settle out in the tanks in the same manner as does the coke or ash particles in the coke-quenching water. Rather, the fine solid particles remain suspended in the quenching water and when this water is used again, the particles are carried into the atmosphere along with the quenching smoke. Accordingly, rather than avoiding the discharge of these particles in the atmosphere, the point of discharge is merely transferred to another point in the method, that is, instead of from the coking chamber the particles are emitted from the quenching tower.

It has also been known to retain a certain amount of the coal within the bunkers during the charging operation to act as a gas seal (Glueskauf, Vol. 97, (1961), pages 256 to 260). Moreover, the bunkers have been arranged in a similar manner to prevent the escape of charging gases through an empty bunker outlet into the atmosphere after the charging operation has been completed or to avoid the intake of air into the furnace chamber.

Another location for the escape of pollutants from the coking furnaces is from the opening through which a levelling rod is inserted into the furnace. To prevent any emission from the levelling rod opening, the rod has been constructed of a pair of spaced side members connected by transverse bars with the rod inserted into the furnace through a pipe or sleeve which is attached to the opening by means of a flange or the like. To improve the sealing action between the sleeve and the levelling rod, brushlike linings have been provided on the interior of the sleeve and further, the transverse bars within the levelling rod have been arranged so that at least one of them is always located within the sleeve during the levelling operation and prevents the escape of charging gases from the furnace.

Furthermore, another means for preventing the discharge of pollutants into the atmosphere has been the use of steam nozzles within the risers from the furnace chambers to maintain a partial vacuum so that any gases and air can be withdrawn through the risers into a gas receiver during the charging operation. In this arrangement, large amounts of dust have been taken into the furnace which provides an undesired reduction in the calorific value of the coking gases. Moreover, in this arrangement large amounts of dust are introduced into the receiver and such dust increases the ash content of the crude tar which causes fouling in the gas preparation plants in advance of the benzene production.

Another attempt to overcome the problem has involved the removal of the charging gases from one furnace chamber to another one by the use of piping. Such an arrangement requires special openings in the furnace casing which must be provided with sealtight closures. Further, this arrangement has the additional disadvantage of the manual work involved in attaching and removing the piping and the covers.

Individual ones of the measures mentioned above have been combined to overcome the problem, for example, of the steam intake in the risers and the washing of the charging gases issuing from the charging openings have been combined.

However, it has not been possible to eliminate the disad vantages mentioned above by the use of the above measures either individually or in combination.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for charging coal into coking furnaces without discharging any smoke, dust or gases into the atmosphere and for controlling the amount of air which enters into the furnace and mixes with the coking gas.

Another object of the invention is to prevent any fouling of the gas preparation plant.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple arrangement of apparatus for affording the desired charging operation.

A further object of the invention is to carry out the charging operation within a predetermined period of time and to arrange a proper sequence of the operations so that the maximum efficiency is obtained while maintaining, to a minimum, the loss of any pollutants to the atmosphere.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the supply of coal into the furnace chambers is effected by maintaining the charging periods to between 2 to 6 seconds per ton of coal supplied. Moreover, in each of the charging bunkers a supply of coal is maintained at the outlet to act as a gas seal against the free atmosphere in a manner which is known in the art. During the charging operation the movable support for the bunkers is positioned over the individual inlets to the furnace chambers, and covers are provided at the inlets to provide them with a gastight closure. When a bunker is positioned to charge into a particular inlet, the cover is removed and displaced laterally so that the lower end of the bunker can be moved downwardly into sealtight contact with the casing of the furnace at the inlet. The coal is charged into the furnaces in a predetermined sequence and when the charging operation is completed the movable outlet parts of the bunker are removed individually from the inlets so that only one inlet is exposed to the atmosphere at a time. As soon as the connection between the bunker and the inlet is removed, the inlet cover is replaced to limit, as much as possible, the time period during which the inlet is open to the atmosphere.

At the outlet ends of the bunkers a discharge funnel member is articulated to the bunker and is displaceable both laterally or horizontally and vertically to assure proper alignment with the inlet to the furnace chamber though the bunker itself may not be in exact alignment with the inlet.

After the charging operation from a plurality of bunkers mounted on the movable support member has advanced about two-thirds of the way to completion, a levelling rod is introduced into the furnace chambers for levelling the coal. The introduction of the levelling rod is arranged to provide a seal against any passage either inwardly or outwardly of gases through the sleeve which guides the levelling rod into the furnace chamber.

Another feature of the invention is the maintenance of a partial vacuum of between 2-6 mm. of water column in the riser leading from the furnace chambers for properly withdrawing gases during the charging operation.

It has been found that if the points at which a seal is provided during the charging operation, that is, between the inlets through the furnace casing and the outlets from the bunkers, are kept clean and the sealing surfaces are formed with sufficient care, as is customary in the coking industry, then the maintenance of the partial vacuum is sufiicient, with the cooperation of the other features of the invention, to prevent the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere and also to avoid any inadmissible loading of condensates with solids which would tend to foul the gas preparation plant.

In the past, considerable objection has been indicated against the use ofa unifonn vacuum since it was believed that such an underpressure would have to be maintained at a very high order to shunt off reliably any outflow of gas at the start of the charging operation. Moreover, it was feared that the quantity of air taken into the furnace under such conditions would unduly reduce the calorific value of the gases within the furnace chamber, and that the condensates would be substantially contaminated by the entrainment of dust. It was also believed that the gas preparation plant and the pipe lines would also become fouled. It had not been appreciated in the past that the relatively low vacuum used according to the invention would be sufficient. Moreover, it has been found advantageous using this arrangement that a l to L percent higher yield of coking gas (net calorific power equals 4,300 heat units) is obtained.

A movable support or vehicle for the charging operation according to the present invention, in which charging hoppers of funnels are dependently supported below the charging bunkers, has been suggested in the German patent application G 36944 Vlb/ a. The outlet funnels of these charging bunkers hang from a double suspension and they cannot be canted; they attach perpendicularly and tightly on the outer casing of the furnaces even if the axes of the openings through the outer casing and the charging hoppers are not in perfect alignment.

In the levelling operation, a levelling rod is used which has been known and consists of a pair of side members interconnected by transverse bars having the same height as the side members. In operation the levelling rod is contained within a sleeve which effects a sealing action at the point at which the levelling rod enters into the furnace. The interior lining of the sleeve is provided with brushlike formations to improve the sealing effect. Further, the length of the sleeve is adapted to the construction of the levelling rod so that at least one of the transverse bars is always positioned within the sleeve as the levelling rod is inserted into the furnace to provide a block or seal against the loss of gases and the like. The continuous controlled removal of the charging gases is insured by the fact that the levelling operation is commenced after approximately two-thirds of the coal has been supplied into the furnace chamber. In the charging operation, the bunkers are emptied successively in such a way that no gas accumulations can develop in the furnace chamber. To attain this result, the outer charging bunkers are emptied first and then the next two inwardly positioned bunkers supply the coal into the furnace chamber and finally the centrally located bunker or bunkers completes the filling operation.

In the arrangement just described, it would also be possible to use the levelling rod without a sealing sleeve. In such an arrangement, care must be exercised that the entrance for the levelling rod is opened quickly, after which the rod is immediately inserted so that the possibility of air entering into the furnace chambers through the entrance way is kept to a minimum.

In the levelling operation, a support track is mounted exteriorly of the furnace chamber casing and a car is mounted on the track which, when moved outwardly from the casing, opens the entrance for the levelling rod so that a clear opening is provided for introducing the levelling rod into the furnace chamber.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularly in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a coking furnace and a coal-charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the manner of introducing a levelling rod into the coking furnace shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is partial vertical diagrammatic showing through the coking furnace indicating the way in which the levelling rod is inserted while maintaining a sealed connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, furnace chamber 1 ofa multichamber coking furnace assembly is shown. Structural supports 2 from the exterior of the furnace casing on which a platform 3 supports a receiver 4 in communication with the interior of the furnace chamber 1. Distillation products, generated within the furnace chamber, pass through an outlet 5, a riser 6 and an elbow 7 and then into the receiver 4. At its upper end the riser 6 has a cover 8. A steam conduit 9 extends along the top of the furnace casing and branch lines 10 extend upwardly from the steam conduit and are connected by means of a fitting 12 and nozzles 101 into the riser 6. Further, a valve 11 is located in the branch line 10 for regulating the flow of steam into the riser.

Extending upwardly from the furnace casing and only partly indicated in FIG. 1 is a coal tower 13 having a number of discharge chutes l4 spaced across its top section.

On the top of the furnace casing a pair of longitudinally extending, spaced rails 15 are provided on which a movable support structure 17 is mounted by means of wheels 16. The traveling support member is provided with a support member 18 on which are mounted two outside bunkers 19a and three interior bunkers 19b. It will be noted that certain of the bunkers are partly conical and partly rectilinear intermediate the upper and lower ends while others are frustoconical for their midportion.

At their upper ends, the bunkers 19a, 19b have inlet openings 20 which are positionable below the outlets 14 from the coal tower 13.

Located on the support structure is an operator's compartment 21.

Each of the bunkers 19a, 19b has a cylindrically shaped discharge opening 22 at its lower end and each of the discharge openings extends downwardly within and spaced inwardly from a discharge funnel 23. In FIG. 1, it will be noted that the discharge funnels 23 are located in a number of different locations for illustrating the various steps involved in charging coal from the bunkers 19a, 19b into the furnace chamber 1. The discharge funnels 23 are arranged to be vertically positionable relative to the discharge opening from the bunkers and to the inlets 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e to the furnace chambers. Secured to and located above each of the discharge funnels is a traverse member 24 which extends about the lower cylindrical part of the bunkers and is secured to the discharge funnels through lug members 25 and connector members 103. Due to the arrangement of the traverse members and the connection with the discharge funnels, the discharge funnel is movable both vertically and horizontally relative to the discharge openings from the bunkers. Since the outside diameter of the lower opening from the bunker is con siderably less than the upper end of the discharge funnels 23, there is considerable tolerance for movement of the discharge funnel in the horizontal direction. Moreover, the pendulum suspension of the discharge funnel permits considerable liberty in its movement. With this arrangement, though the bunkers are not exactly aligned above the inlets 40a-40e to the furnace chamber the lateral movement permitted in the discharge funnels will permit exact alignment and proper flow of the coal into the chamber. Moreover, since the discharge funnels can adjust to any misalignment between the inlets to the furnace chamber and the bunkers, it is possible for the spherical sealing surfaces 26 at the lower or outlet ends of the discharge funnels to fit in tight engagement with the corresponding sealing surfaces 39 at the entrances to the inlets to the furnace chamber.

The vertical movement of the discharge funnels is accomplished by means of hydraulic cylinders 30 which are articulated to the support member 18. The hydraulic cylinders 30 are operated from the operator's compartment 21. Piston rods 31 extending from the cylinders 30 are connected at their lower ends to transversely extending levers 32. Dependent beam 33, extending downwardly from the support member 18, provides a pivotal pin connection 34 between the lever 32 and the beam 33. At its outer end the lever 32 is connected by means of a pin to a block 36 which, in turn, is rigidly connected to the traverse member 24. When the piston is extended, the discharge funnel is retracted upwardly and conversely when the piston rod 31 is drawn into the cylinder 30, the lever pivots about the bolt 34 and displaces the discharge funnel 23 downwardly toward an inlet to the furnace chamber. Moreover, a second lever 37 is pin connected at one end by means of a pin 38 to the beam 33 and at its opposite ends by means of a pin 104 to the transverse member 24. Due to this arrangement, the discharge funnel can be displaced vertically without any lateral displacement which would cause misalignment with the inlet to the furnace chamber.

Within the discharge funnels 23, a closing gate 42 is provided which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis 43 and to which a lever 44 is rigidly connected at one end. At its opposite end, the lever 44 is connected by a bolt 45 to the lower end of a piston rod 46. The piston rod 46 extends upwardly into a hydraulic cylinder 47 which is operated from the operators compartment 21. By means of the cylinder 47, the gate 42 can be moved between a closed position as shown in the outside bunkers 19a or it can be moved vertically into the open position as shown in the centrally arranged bunker 19b,

in the inlet 40e, a closure member 41 is shown providing a seal for the inlet. As mentioned previously, the closure member 41 is removable from the inlet and can be moved laterally out of the path of the discharge funnel. Next the funnel is moved downwardly into contact with the inlet. Coal is supplied into the furnace chamber when the gate 42 is moved to the open position by means of the cylinder 47 and its associated piston rod 46.

in H0. 2, a portion ofa pusher machine 49 is comprised of a leveller rod 50. The leveller rod 50 consists of a pair of longitudinally extending side members 51 which are maintained apart by means of longitudinally spaced transverse members 52 which are of the same height as the side members. At the forward end of the leveller rod, that is, the end closer to the furnace chamber 1, a front plate 54 is secured by means of angles 53 to the side members 51. Disposed laterally of the leveller rod is a carrier 55 from which two spaced carrier beams 56,57 extend perpendicularly. Outwardly from the carrier 55, and in generally parallel relationship with it, a pair of rails 58,59 are mounted on and extend between the two beams 56,57. Moreover, the beam 57 carries a baseplate 60 on on which is mounted drive motor 61. Positioned on the rails 59,60 is a car 62 having wheels 63 for riding along the rails. An endless chain 64 travels over a pinion 65 of the drive motor 61 at one end of the rails and at the opposite end it is trained over a reversing pinion 66. Abutments 67 and 68 are located at the opposite ends of the rails 58,59 which limit the extent of travel of the car along the rails. A plate 69 is secured to the forward end of the car and an arm 71 is pivotally mounted to the plate 69 by means of a pin 70. At its opposite end from the plate 69 the arm has a locking arrangement 72.

In the wall of the furnace chamber 1 a door 73 is provided for closing the opening through which the leveller rod extends into the furnace chamber. The arm 71 is rigidly connected with the door 73 and secures the door in the opening by means of the locking arrangement 72. After the locking arrangement is released, the car 62 is moved rearwardly along the rails, as shown in dash lines, and the arm 71 opens the door and moves it into a position which leaves a clear opening for the introduction of the leveller rod into the furnace chamber. A coking door 75 is provided in the wall of the furnace chamber and is mounted within a frame 76 which has a sealing edge 77. The door 75 closes a passageway 74 through the wall.

In FIG. 3 the diagrammatic showing indicates the manner in which the leveller rod 52 is introduced through the opening in the wall of the furnace chamber so that any discharge of gases and dusts are prevented during the levelling operation.

Extending through a frame 78 mounted in the wall of the furnace chamber is a sleeve 79 having a flange 80 which tightly engages and forms a seal against the frame 78. The forward end of the sleeve 79 extends through the opening of the leveller rod and it has a forward end 79b extending at an angle to the wall 791: of the sleeve and forms a proper profile for the front plate 54 of the leveller rod 50 to provide a tight closurelike seal with the sleeve. As shown in FIG. 3, during the levelling operation, there are always two webs or transverse members 52 of the leveller rod located within the sleeve 79. These webs 52 prevent the passage of any gases or dust through the leveller rod during the levelling operation.

At the outer end of the sleeve, the leveller rod is supported within a channellike structure formed by a bottom member 81 and a pair of side members 82. This channellike structure serves to prevent any coal or carbon which is entrained between the side members of the leveller rod from dropping downwardly and causing any fouling or soiling of the equipment. A pin 83 is fixed to the sidewall 82 of the channellike member and a wire rope is secured to the pin and extends over a roller 85 and a weight 86 is secured to the free end of the wire rope. The roller 85 is mounted at the upper end of a first support member 87 which, in turn, is mounted on a support structure 89. A second support member 87 is mounted rearwardly of the first one and both of the support members 87 have rollers 88 for supporting the traveling movement of the leveller rod 50. For guiding the leveller rod through the sleeve 79, an upright member 90 and a horizontal member 91 are arranged above the leveller rod 50 and a pair of roller 92 are located between the member 91 and that leveller rod to guide the leveller rod through the sleeve. Moreover, at the edge of the support structure 89 adjacent the furnace chamber a telescopelike support 95, 96 has a roller 97 mounted in a fork 98 at its end remote from the support structure. At the support structure this telescopelike support 95,96 is articulated by means of a pin 93 to an angle support secured to the support structure 89.

The leveller rod 50 is moved by drive means, now shown, and by a roller 99 over which a drive rope 100 extends. The drive rope 100 is endless and the leveller rod is attached to it. When the leveller rod 50 is moved through the sleeve 79 into the furnace chamber, the weight 86 draws the sleeve 79 forwardly until its flange 80 is in sealing contact against the frame 78 about the opening for the leveller rod within the furnace chamber. Accordingly, during the levelling operation as the rod 50 is moved inwardly and outwardly, the seal is maintained between the sleeve structure and the frame in the furnace chamber. During the movement of the leveller rod within the sleeve, there is always at least one of the webs 52 within the body of the sleeve to prevent any loss of the gases or dust from the furnace chamber through the leveller rod construction. When the levelling operations are completed, as the leveller rod is removed from the furnace chamber, an abutment, now shown, on the leveller rod returns the sleeve with its extension 81, 82 to a position outwardly from the furnace chamber, and it also lifts the weight 86 into the starting position. With the leveller rod 50 and the sleeve 79 and its associated parts withdrawn from the furnace chamber, it is in a position for further insertion for another levelling operation. The car 62 is returned to its starting position and closes the door which is, in turn, locked by the locking arrangement 72. The apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3 and described above operates in the following manner:

FIG. 1 shows the various steps in the positioning of the bunkers 19a, 19b, (I, II, III, IV and V reading left to right) and their discharge funnels 23 relative to the inlets 40A-40e of the furnace chamber 1 for supplying coal into the chamber. Initially, each of the bunkers 19a, 19b is filled with coal from the coal tower and the support structure 17 travels along the rails 15 and positions the discharge funnels 23 in approximate axial alignment over the inlet shafts 40a-40e of the furnace chamber. In the ideal situation the discharge funnels and the inlets are in axial alignment, however, as mentioned above, the lateral movement provided by the discharge funnels in the manner in which they are articulated to the bunkers assures that the connection between the funnels and the inlets can be made without any misalignment of the bunker discharge apparatus.

Initially, the bunkers 19a, 19b are in the position as shown for the bunker I aligned above inlets 40a, however, when the bunkers are first moved into position, there is a closure member 41 fitted within the inlets 40a40e. The closure members 41 are lifted from the inlets in succession and the discharge funnels 23 are lowered so that their surfaces 26 are in sealing engagement with the surfaces 39 at the inlets to the furnace chambers. In this position, the gate within the discharge funnel is still maintained in the closed position so that no coal as yet is discharged into the furnace chamber. The door 73 at the opening in the furnace chamber for the leveller rod is unlocked, however, it is maintained in the closed position with the arm 71 ready to open the door at the required time in the filling operation. At the same time the steam valve 11 in the conduit is opened and a vacuum condition of 4 mm water column is established in the riser 6.

With each of the discharge funnels in sealed engagement with the inlets to the furnace chambers, the gates 42 within the discharge funnels are opened in a predetermined sequence and the furnace chamber is filled with coal within a period of approximately I20 seconds. The bunkers are discharged into the furnace chamber starting with the outside bunkers I,V; then in delayed sequence the bunkers II, IV are opened after the first bunkers are closed and finally the central bunker III is opened to complete the filling operation. The sequence of opening and closing the gates 42 for discharging the coal from the bunkers takes place in a regular rhythm to prevent the formation of any bridges of the coal within the furnace chamber.

After 80 seconds has elapsed, and approximately two-thirds of the coal has been charged into the furnace chamber, the drive motor 61 is actuated and the car 62 is moved along the rails 58, 59 from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dot-dash lines. As the car moves rearwardly, the arm 71 connected to the forward end of the car at the point 69 opens the door 73 for the insertion of the leveller rod into the furnace chamber. As the leveller rod is moved forwardly into the furnace chamber, the sleeve 79 also moves with it being positioned by means of the weight 86, so that its flange 80 is placed in sealing engagement against the frame 78 of the leveller opening into the furnace chamber. Due to the construction of the sleeve 79 and of the leveller rod 50, the levelling operation can be performed without any loss of gases or other constituents through the sleeve or about the leveller rod.

During the charging operation, the arrangement of bunker III indicates the position of the gate 42 as coal is fed into the chamber. When the amount of coal to be charged into the furnace has been emptied from the bunker, a small amount of coal is retained within the discharge funnel acting as a block or seal against the passage of gases upwardly from the furnace chamber through the inlet into the bunker. To determine when the gate 42 should be closed, a level measuring device 48, 106 hangs dependently within the bunker. It will be noted in the bunkers I, II, III that the level measuring device 48 is located within the body of the coal. However, when the coal reaches a specified level within the discharge funnel 23, the device will transmit a pulse for closing the gate 42 and retaining the required amount 105 in the funnel. The amount of the coal cushion 105 acts not only as a block against any gases escaping from the furnace chamber but also prevents any passage of air downwardly through the bunker into the furnace chamber.

After a particular bunker has discharged its supply of coal into the furnace chamber, note the bunker IV in FIG. 1, the discharge funnel is still in sealed engagement with the inlet to the furnace chamber preventing the passage of any air thereto. The steps of removing the discharge funnels from the inlets is indicated by bunker V and inlet 40e with the discharge funnel being retracted upwardly leaving the inlet uncovered. As soon as the funnel is withdrawn from the inlet, the closure member 41 is replaced in the inlet opening to limit, as much as possible, the admission of air into the furnace chamber. The discharge funnels 23 are withdrawn from the furnace chamber inlets in succession so that only one of the inlets is open to the atmosphere at any time. As the closure members are placed in the inlets, sealing them against the passage of air. the next discharge funnel is removed until all of the discharge funnels 23 are in the upper position and each of the inlets is closed. The traveling support 17 can then be moved along the rails 15 and the bunkers 19a, 19 b again filled with coal from the chutes 14 of the coal tower 13 for the next charging operation. As can be noted in bunker V when the discharge funnel is lifted upwardly from the inlet the level measuring device is in a slack position with the end portion 48 resting on the upper surface of the coal forming the block within the discharge funnel.

When the coal charging and the levelling operation is completed, the leveller rod 50 is withdrawn with the sleeve 79 through the opening to the furnace chamber and the door 73 is closed by displacing the car 62 forwardly along the rails 58,59 so that the arm 71 pivots the door 73 in to its closed position and the arrangement 72 is engaged to lock the door assuring the sealing action of the door against or within the opening.

An example of a coking furnace unit, in accordance with the present invention, comprises 45 furnace chambers each having a capacity of 22.5 cubic meters and five inlet openings, as indicated in FIG. 1, for charging the coal into the chamber from the bunkers on the moving support. The discharge funnels from the bunkers are movable in both the vertical and horizontal directions to provide a proper sealing engagement at the entrances to the inlets to the furnace chambers. The sealing surfaces are preferably spherical in shape to assure a proper sealing action. During the charging operation, the steam supply through the nozzle into the riser from the furnace chamber is set to vary between 2 and 6 mm. of water column in dependence upon the conditions within the furnace chamber. Based upon an annual average, 30 kg. of steam are consumed per ton of coal.

After the coal has been completely charged into the furnace chambers, the levelling operation is continued for approximately 40 seconds to assure the removal of the charging gases from the furnace chamber. At the termination of the coal charging and levelling operation, the steam supply to the riser is discontinued. Next the coking is carried out within the furnace chambers for a period of about l8.6 hours and a crude tar with 0.23 percent of ashes is obtained. In this operation, no pronounced fouling of the pipe lines or the gas preparation plant was observed. For each ton of coal which contained, on the average, 45 percent dust and sludge parts mixed with 8 percent water, it was possible to. obtain 340NM coke gas with a net calorific power of 4.300 kcaL/Nmr".

lf the charging operation is carried out under otherwise equal conditions, but permitting the bunkers to be completely emptied so that an open passageway is provided between the bunkers and the furnace chamber, and using a levelling rod without sealing elements and, further, if the period for keeping the levelling rod open cannot be maintained at a minimum, then 60 kg. of steam wouldhave to be expended per ton of coal during the charging to attain the desired partial vacuum. Accordingly, by using the present invention, it is possible to obtain improved products from the coking operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of charging the furnace chambers of a coking furnace unit having an outlet riser for distillation products leading from the furnace chambers, comprising the steps of filling material to be charged into the furnace chambers into a movable multicompartmented charging member having a selectively operable closed outlet on each compartment, positioning the charging member over a plurality of closed furnace chamber inlets with the outlets from the charging member in vertically spaced relationship to respective inlets, individually opening the furnace chamber inlets and individually placing the outlets of the charging member into sealed engagement with the respective inlets as the latter are individually opened, individually opening the outlets in the charging member and delivering an amount of the material through the inlets into the furnace chamber within a given time period while retaining a sufficient amount of material in each outlet from the charging member to form a block across the passageway therethrough for preventing any flow of gases from the furnace chamber into the compartments of the charging member, inserting a levelling member into the furnace chamber in sealing relation through an opening therein during at least a latter portion of the time period for delivering material into the chamber, levelling the material within the furnace chamber while preventing a passage of gases outwardly from the chamber or air inwardly into the chamber through the opening for the levelling member, closing the outlets from the charging members, and individually withdrawing the outlets from the respective inlets while closing the respective inlets individually as the respective outlets are withdrawn therefrom for limiting the opening of the inlets to the atmosphere, and, during such charging of the furnace chambers, maintaining, in the outlet riser, a partial vacuum in the range of 2 to 6 mm. of water column.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein coal is the material being supplied to the furnace chambers and charging the coal through the inlets into the furnace chamber at a rate of 2 to 6 seconds per ton of coal.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein instituting the levelling step during the charging period when approximately two-thirds of the material has been charged through the inlets into the furnace chamber.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein completing the filling of the furnace chamber in a period of about I20 seconds.

5. An apparatus for charging coal into multiple furnace chambers in a coking furnace unit comprising a movable support structure arranged to be selectively positionable above a coking furnace unit, a plurality of separated vertically arranged bunkers mounted on said support structure and each arranged to contain a supply of coal, an outlet member articulated to each of said bunkers and movable horizontally and vertically relative to said bunker into sealed engagement with respective inlets to a furnace chamber, means within each said bunker for monitoring the level of the coal therein and for closing said gate to retain a quantity of coal in the bunker acting as a block against the passage of gas outwardly from the inlets to the furnace chamber, and means maintaining a partial vacuum withing an outlet riser, for distillation products, communicating with the furnace chamber. I

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherern each sard outlet member comprises a discharge funnel mounted on the lower end of said bunker, the inlet to said discharge funnel located at the outlet from said bunker having a diameter considerably larger than the outlet from said bunker for permitting relative movement therebetween, means mounted on said support structure for moving said discharge funnel upwardly and downwardly, and said closure gate positioned within said discharge member at the lower end thereof, and means mounted within said discharge funnel for pivoting said closure gate between its open and closed positions.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for levelling the coal comprising a support structure, a leveller rod movably mounted on said support structure, a sleeve member arranged to enclose said leveller rod and to be inserted into the opening to the furnace chamber for guiding said leveller rod into the furnace chamber, said leveller rod being movable through said sleeve in closely fitting engagement therewith for preventing the passage therethrough of gases and the like from the furnace chamber during the levelling operation, and means for inserting said leveller rod into the furnace chamber.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said sleeve member having a channellike extension secured at its end located outwardly from the furnace chamber in the levelling operation for providing a support for the leveller rod as it is moved inwardly and outwardly during the levelling operation.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said leveller rod comprises a pair of laterally spaced side members arranged to extend longitudinally through said sleeve member into the furnace chamber, said side members each having a transverse dimension substantially equal to the corresponding transverse dimension of said sleeve, and a plurality of transverse members arranged to extend between said side members and having the same transverse dimension as said side members so that said transverse members in combination with said side members form a seal within said sleeve member for preventing the passage of gas outwardly through said sleeve member during the levelling operation. 

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein coal is the material being supplied to the furnace chambers and charging the coal through the inlets into the furnace chamber at a rate of 2 to 6 seconds per ton of coal.
 3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein instituting the levelling step during the charging period when approximately two-thirds of the material has been charged through the inlets into the furnace chamber.
 4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein completing the filling of the furnace chamber in a period of about 120 seconds.
 5. An apparatus for charging coal into multiple furnace chambers in a coking furnace unit comprising a movable support structure arranged to be selectively positionable above a coking furnace unit, a plurality of separated vertically arranged bunkers mounted on said support structure and each arranged to contain a supply of coal, an outlet member articulated to each of said bunkers and movable horizontally and vertically relative to said bunker into sealed engagement with respective inlets to a furnace chamber, means within each said bunker for monitoring the level of the coal therein and for closing said gate to retain a quantity of coal in the bunker acting as a block against the passage of gas outwardly from the inlets to the furnace chamber, and means maintaining a partial vacuum within an outlet riser, for distillation products, communicating with the furnace chamber.
 6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein each said outlet member comprises a discharge funnel mounted on the lower end of said bunker, the inlet to said discharge funnel located at the outlet from saId bunker having a diameter considerably larger than the outlet from said bunker for permitting relative movement therebetween, means mounted on said support structure for moving said discharge funnel upwardly and downwardly, and said closure gate positioned within said discharge member at the lower end thereof, and means mounted within said discharge funnel for pivoting said closure gate between its open and closed positions.
 7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for levelling the coal comprising a support structure, a leveller rod movably mounted on said support structure, a sleeve member arranged to enclose said leveller rod and to be inserted into the opening to the furnace chamber for guiding said leveller rod into the furnace chamber, said leveller rod being movable through said sleeve in closely fitting engagement therewith for preventing the passage therethrough of gases and the like from the furnace chamber during the levelling operation, and means for inserting said leveller rod into the furnace chamber.
 8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said sleeve member having a channellike extension secured at its end located outwardly from the furnace chamber in the levelling operation for providing a support for the leveller rod as it is moved inwardly and outwardly during the levelling operation.
 9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said leveller rod comprises a pair of laterally spaced side members arranged to extend longitudinally through said sleeve member into the furnace chamber, said side members each having a transverse dimension substantially equal to the corresponding transverse dimension of said sleeve, and a plurality of transverse members arranged to extend between said side members and having the same transverse dimension as said side members so that said transverse members in combination with said side members form a seal within said sleeve member for preventing the passage of gas outwardly through said sleeve member during the levelling operation. 